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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A Pilot's Day Is Done

To Sea18 x24oil on wrapped canvas

"To Sea" my husband might say when I ask what his assignment is and then I know he will be taking a ship from somewhere near Vancouver out past Victoria and as the ship continues out to sea a pilot boat will come alongside to pick him up. He often takes his camera with him and was able to capture this scene so I couldn't resist painting it. Here is a fellow pilot having come down the side of a tanker by stairway, a ladder and finally stepping on to the deck of the pilot boat all the while trying to keep his balance, a challenge on stormy days. What fascinated me about this was how the man on the ship looked like he was suspended in the air with all the light reflecting off the side of the ship. I liked this effect so decided to keep it but found it challenging trying to make it look like it was receding. The reflections on the pilot boat were fun though. As usual my lesson learned here was to draw properly from the beginning as I spent quite a bit of time making corrections.

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Studio in Leir House - The Leir House in Penticton is a designated heritage building and is home to the Penticton Arts Council, open to the public 5 days a week. Many of the rooms are rented by musicians and visual artists as studio space or teaching venues and I was lucky to have secured one. Future plans are for a gift shop but in the mean time drop by and check out the current show or get information on the various events happening.

A Note about my process - My oil paintings are done using only walnut oil as a medium with a touch of thinner, no alkyds, extenders, driers, varnishes - just oil and pigment. When the surface is dry enough I will rub in a little more walnut oil to even out the sheen bringing out a beautiful glow and brush stroke pattern quite unlike a varnished look with a durable a finish. These can always be varnished for added protection.